In summer 2013 members of several ABC groups discussed the necessity of introducing an International Day for Anarchist Prisoners. Given there are already established dates for Political Prisoners Rights Day or Prison Justice Day, we found it important to emphasise the stories of our comrades as well. Many imprisoned anarchists will never be acknowledged as ‘political prisoners’ by formal human-rights organisations, because their sense of social justice is strictly limited to the capitalist laws which are designed to defend the State and prevent any real social change. At the same time, even within our individual communities, we know so little about the repression that exists in other countries, to say nothing of the names and cases involving many of our incarcerated comrades.

This is why we have decided to introduce an annual Week for Anarchist Prisoners on August 23-30. We chose August 23 as a starting point, because on that very day in 1927 the Italian-American anarchists Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were executed in prison. They were convicted of murdering two men during an armed robbery at a shoe factory in South Braintree, Massachusetts, United States. Their arrest was a part of a bigger anti-radical campaign led by the American government. The State’s evidence against the two was almost totally non-existent and many people still today believe that they were punished for their strong anarchist beliefs. Given the nature and diversity of anarchist groups around the globe, we have proposed a week of common action rather than a single campaign on a specific day making easier for groups to be able to organise an event within a longer target period. Therefore, we call on everyone to spread the information about the Week for Anarchist Prisoners among other groups and communities and think about organising event(s) in your city or town. The events can vary from info-evenings, screenings and benefit concerts to solidarity and direct actions. Let your imagination run free.

This is a call for international solidarity with anarchists in Mexico facing repression, whether they are stuck behind the iron bars of prison cells or hiding out for their freedom.

The state of Mexico has turned its attention to the blossoming anarchist space that has been actively attacking the state’s defense apparatus, the very foundation upon which it stands. Now is the best time to draw inspiration from the anarchist space in Mexico, and to show some love to our imprisoned comrades. The history of Mexico is very rich, and cannot be summed up in a text such as this. What can be mentioned, however, are the efforts that have been made to live in conflict with the state. This call comes at a time when the anarchist space in Mexico has been actively contributing to a struggle against power and domination. Attacks on police vehicles, banks, government buildings, and other symbols of power have led the Mexican state on a hunt to persecute those who have effectively threatened their foundation of social peace.

There have been several recent instances of targeted repression of anarchists in Mexico: the arrest of Mario Tripa in 2012 and his recent re-arrest in January 2014, the ongoing detention of Mario Gonzalez, the kidnapping and incarceration of several anarchist comrades, the barring of Alfredo Bonanno from entering the country, and the torture, interrogation, and deportation of Gustavo Rodriguez. There has been a strong response to this repression by anarchists in Mexico, who have celebrated the courage of their companerxs through sustained attacks in active solidarity. Between March 17-24th, we are calling for international strength and solidarity to be shown with anarchists in Mexico facing repression. Now, at a time when the eyes of the state and their dogs have turned towards our comrades, we are urging the act to be returned in kind.

“However, even given the imminent state of control, there are still those who aren’t frightened, those who by day or by night, alone or collectively, with fire, fire-works, blockades, explosives or firearms, show that this is not the life we want, that – at least from our perspective- this system must be totally destroyed. Their damned social peace is a myth that they attempt to impose on us. Only conflict exists…It’s clear that we have to take control of our lives and our spaces; to be able to achieve it there is no other way out than Social War.”

On Friday, January 10, police attacked a march of 3000 people protesting a gentrifying construction project in the working class neighborhood of Gamonal, Burgos. In response, people began rioting, building barricades, destroying construction equipment, attacking banks and police.

Rioting continued the following day after a protest of 1,500 in solidarity with the first day’s arrestees.

On Sunday the 12th, 3000 people took to the streets again demanding the release of the over 40 people arrested by police so far.

Rioting and attacks also occurred the fourth consecutive night, January 13.

On the morning of January 14, 300 people gathered and blocked the construction equipment from arriving at the work site.

On the 9th of January, we answered a call for solidarity with stolen anarchist comrades in Mexico City, Fallon Poisson, Amelie Pillierst and Carlos López Mart. We crept up to a HSBC bank on East Hastings, in occupied Coast Salish Territory (Vancouver, BC), and lit an incendiary device in the ATM area causing a massive fire ball. HSBC is a symbol of capitalism, oppression and domination. So it’s a perfect target for our rage.

This also comes in a time where Canada’s justice minister Peter Mackay is warning activists to not commit illegal actions toward stopping the pipelines. Mackay you can shove your warnings up your fucking ass. The state’s and corporations dreams of massive resource extraction will go up in flames of revolt from the streets to late night sabotage and destruction. The need for freedom, anarchy and liberation will destroy this colonial state. Our acts of sabotage are uncontrollable, strategic and successful. This attack on HSBC is only the beginning of sabotage the will and is occurring. We are also in solidarity with Miq’maq warriors and other protesters still facing charges and harassment by the RCMP pigs and the Canadian state from anti-fracking protests in Elsipogtog.

SOLIDARITY WITH COMRADES FACING IMPRISONMENT IN MEXICO CITY!
SOLIDARITY WITH ALL LAND DEFENDERS AND ANARCHIST COMRADES!
SABOTAGE THE SYSTEMS OF SOCIAL CONTROL, DOMINATION, PATRIARCHY AND OPPRESSION!
LONG LIVE ANARCHY!

5:00pm – 7:00pmMonday December 2 2013

Venue: Main St and Hastings St

Address: Main Street at Hastings Street

Cost: Free

Accessibility: It is wheelchair accessible.

Students from the UBC Social Justice Centre are calling on EVERYONE to stand in solidarity with the land defenders in Elsipogtog. An injunction has been issued by the New Brunswick provincial court which effectively denies Elsipogtog and their supporters their right as Canadian citizens to protest. The RCMP are being used to protect private interests, using force to silence peaceful protests.

We will meet at the corner of Main and Hastings at 5pm on December 2nd. We will march to Waterfront station from there.

Dec.2 is when SWN is going back into court to file another injunction against the protectors in Kent County.
People from every nation are standing side by side our indigneous brothers and sisters. Bring out your drums and songs to show that all nations stand together against state brutality.
Nature is not an infinite resource.

Organizer:socialjusticecentre.ubc[at]gmail.com

Emergency Day of Action, Solidarity with Elsipogtog

Call out for solidarity actions and rallies on Dec 2, 2013

“We are not giving up despite these harsh weather conditions, sacrificing time with our families, our jobs, our homes, not only to protect land, water and people but to ensure a brighter future for the next 7 generations. We are asking for more support, through road blocks to be in solidarity. This is not just an Elsipogtog issue, this is a global issue and we need to raise awareness. Show us support any way possible, sending thank you’s, road blocks, banners, even dropping by, all and every type of support is appreciated.”

The 3rd encampment in Mi’kmaq Territory, at HWY 11, which saw stand off’s between the Mi’kmaq peoples protecting the water and RCMP protecting corporate interests, is requesting widespread global support.

The Provincial Court of New Brunswick has approved an injunction which names 5 people, including “Jane” and “John Doe”, to target the HWY 11 encampment. This encampment has successfully turned away SWN vehicles and is preventing SWN from conducting seismic testing on unceded Mi’kmaq lands. Each day that SWN cannot conduct its testing, it costs the company $54, 000. SWN is once again looking to the RCMP to enforce the injunction most recently granted. At this time, the RCMP have used the injunction to target the Mi’kmaq and have set up a “check point” on HWY 11, where the RCMP stop vehicles to arrest passengers and drivers at their whim.

We remember the last time the RCMP enforced an injunction against the Mi’kmaq people. As seen historically, the RCMP will continue to enforce the violation of treaties and attack Indigenous self-determination. At this time, the RCMP are not only harassing Mi’kmaq Land Defenders and non-Native supporters, but continuing to throw them in jail. On Thursday, November 28th the Mi’kmaq again turned SWN away – declaring another day of victory. They are standing up against brutal police repression, and continued theft of Indigenous lands and ongoing colonization. Show them they are not alone!

On Monday Dec. 2nd HWY 11 Land Defenders are asking you to show your solidarity by taking action in your community. Where possible, highway shutdowns are encouraged however any action of support, such as banner drops, are welcome. #ShutDownCanada

On December 31, 2012, a group of about a dozen anarchists met near the Burnaby Youth Detention Centre for the annual jail solidarity noize demo. These noise demos happen around the world on December 31, and those in the streets yell to remind those locked inside the oppressive prison walls that they have not been forgotten and that the systems that oppress them are not unshakeable. It’s a tradition that has largely been adopted by anarchists, who see the injustice of not just the prison system, but of all systems of oppression that are imposed upon us against our will. There is no hope in reform, and while it may seem like an impossible task, we fight to dismantle the prison industrial complex that bathes the rich in money and locks up the poor.

The evening was freezing but when masked up we all felt a little bit warmer. The excitement of what was about to happen also warmed us, and after grabbing pots, pans and black flags from the trunk of one of the cars, we headed toward the jail.

We marched quietly to a parking lot nearest the cells where the youth are held, and started making a ruckus. Many fireworks were shot in the direction of the jail, and pots and pans created a cacophony. Messages were yelled towards the prisoners, supportive messages to the prisoners and the opposite to the guards.

This post is to give a general sense of the trajectory that some anarchists have been on in Vancouver since the 2010 Olympics and the notoriety received from the Heart Attack demonstration Feb 13th 2010. The list ends May 2012